MONUMENT NO. 325499

Site of a preceptory of the Knights Templars first documented in 1164 and dissolved 1308-12. The property then passed to the Hospitallers who retained it, possibly as a grange united to Temple Bruer, (TF 05 SW 1) until it was dissolved in 1540. Excavation of the site has revealed the foundations of several buildings, covering three main phases of activity. The earliest phase dates to the second half of the 12th century and is represented by an aisled hall and a number of ancillary buildings. During the first half of the 13th century the aisled hall was replaced by a larger, L-shaped hall and the complex was enlarged, with the addition of a secondary hall, a chapel, kitchen, at least two barns and a mill. One structure proved difficult to interpret, its stonework having been almost completely robbed out, but it may have been a hall keep, intended as a place of refuge in times of crisis. The hall and chapel were rebuilt later in the 13th century and the farm complex was enlarged and enclosed within a wall.

The Knights Templars appear to have had a small house at South Witham, founded before 1164 and dissolved 1308-12. The property passed to the Hospitallers and was later merged with Temple Bruer. In 1563 the lands called Great Temple in South Witham were granted to Stephen Holford.

Air photographs show traces of what are probably associatedearthworks around the O.S. siting. (2-4)

The published site falls in an area of grass covered foundations and disturbance. Foundations and associated earthworks resurveyed at 1/2500. (5)

The site of the preceptory of Knights Templars at South Witham in progress of excavation by P Mayes for the M.P.B.W. (6)

Excavation report, plan, photos, etc. (7)

The excavations have now been filled in and the area ploughed over. (8)

Early Bronze Age flat axe found during excavations, report. (9)

The plan of the Knights Templars preceptory (described by the previous authorities) was seen as stone foundations on photographs of the excavation, and soilmarks on later photography when the features had been filled in and ploughed.

The site is bounded to the north by a trackway (centred at SK 9281 2058), to the west by a drain (centred at SK 9276 2050) and to the south by bank which forms part of another, smaller enclosure (centred at SK 9283 2047). To the east, the site is bounded by a series of water channels (centred at SK 9291 2053 and SK 9290 2064) associated with the fishponds (SK 9289 2049 and SK 9293 2062), and the mill and millpond (centred at SK 9289 2061).

The foundations of eighteen buildings were recorded on the site, including a mill and a chapel within an enclosure (centred at SK9283 2051). The buildings range in size from 4m by 8m to 10m by 24m. Also recorded were a couple of depressions (centred at SK 92802055) interpreted as the remains of a kitchen garden. For details of the plan and functions of the buildings see the article in Current Archaeology 9 (reference 7).

This description is based on data from the RCHME MORPH2 database. (10)